The development of humane city environments relies on the actions of a wide cross section of people. It is necessary to develop common values among all actors. Institutions need to focus on raising the quality of common understanding.

Abstract

The larger goals of urban development will be realized when there exists a broadly held set of values within the city population. This will create an environment where actions are predicable and where public opinion can support the best practice in urban development. The knowledge base however continues to grow at a much faster pace than can seep to the public through the channels that traditionally transmit this knowledge. This situation calls for a system that accelerates the process and aims to develop a higher quality of common held knowledge. Such a system must be developed by the professional bodies, the educational institutions and the mass media.This paper calls for such a system as an answer to the unsatisfactory situation most African cities find themselves in. It however requires a change of attitude among all involved institutions. A set of values to guide the process is outlined as a proposal. By using examples from recent events involving city planning issues in Kenya, the paper proposes that a more effective way of relating to the public is possible and that it would unlock the energies of broad sections of the public toward the improvement of the city conditions leading to more friendlier and humane urban environments.